Today marked the official start of our 2025 upland bird hunting season in North Dakota, and we kicked things off around the Devils Lake area chasing Sharp-tailed grouse and, hopefully, a few Hungarian partridge (Huns).
I had originally planned to open the season last weekend, but poor weather pushed our first hunt back by a week. The delay was worth it — today brought misty skies, light wind, and temperatures around 60°F, which made for ideal hunting conditions.
Early Morning Hunt – Running Tasha and Peach
I started the day by turning loose my two seasoned hunting dogs — 13-year-old Tasha and 6-year-old Peach. With little wind to work with, we zig-zagged through the first two fields to maximize scenting opportunities, but came up empty.
Next, we moved to a field that had two tree lines running through the middle. Although the grass was short, this area had produced well for us last season. Last year, it was sunny and in the 70s when we hunted here, but today’s cooler, misty weather felt promising.
By the time we returned to the truck, both dogs had logged over 10 miles. Tasha will get a well-earned rest tomorrow and should be ready to go again Monday. Peach, who is still getting back into shape after having a litter this spring, will run again tomorrow to help build up her fitness. I was pleased with her drive and intensity — she’s a natural backer and fun to watch work.
Midday Hunt – Sweep Gets Her Turn
After a short break, I brought out Sweep, my three-year-old. We hunted a hayed field bordered by sunflowers on one side and soybeans on the other. Sweep worked beautifully, ranging between 50–250 yards with a smooth, even pace.
About 30 minutes in, she locked up solid on point. As I approached, a group of Sharp-tails flushed within gun range. Unfortunately, I had a repeat of last year’s opener — I hadn’t fully opened my side-by-side shotgun, so the triggers didn’t set. Rookie mistake, but one I usually only make early in the season.
We kept hunting and eventually found another small covey, but they flushed just a bit too far out for a good shot. By the end of her run, Sweep had covered 13 miles — an excellent workout for her first hunt of the year.
Scouting New PLOTS Land for Tomorrow
With plenty of daylight left, we took some time to scout new PLOTS (Private Land Open To Sportsmen) areas for tomorrow and Monday’s hunts.
Even though we didn’t put any birds in the bag today, the dogs worked beautifully, and it was a joy to see both Sweep and Peach in action for the first time this season. Last year we limited out before lunch, so today felt a bit slow, but that’s hunting. Tomorrow is a new day, and I’m excited to see what we can turn up.
Key Takeaways from Opening Day
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Location: Devils Lake, ND – prime Sharp-tailed grouse and Hun hunting country
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Conditions: 60°F, misty, light wind
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Dogs Worked: Tasha (13 yrs), Peach (6 yrs), Sweep (3 yrs)
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Miles Covered: 10+ miles for Tasha & Peach, 13 miles for Sweep
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Results: No birds harvested, but excellent dog work and productive scouting
This first weekend was more about shaking off the rust, letting the dogs get their miles in, and scouting for the rest of the trip. Stay tuned for updates from tomorrow’s hunt — we’re hoping for some North Dakota Sharp-tail action and maybe a few Huns in the bag.
